Wheel-rim.



G. F. JENKINS.

WHEEL RIM.

PPPPPPPPPPPP I LED JULY 28, 1911. 1,032,286. Patented July 9,191.2.

Mum's.

CHARLES FRANCIS JENKINS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

, WHEEL-RIM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 28, 1911. Serial No. 641,084.-

Patented J uly9, 1912.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES FnANors JENKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheel-Rims, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. r

The present invention relates to vehicle Wheels and more especially to the rims of the same.

The leading object is to provide for heavy vehicles, light, durable and readilyrepaired demountable rims having non-slipping tread surfaces, but certain features of the invention may be used with permanently attached rims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a-portion of a wheel in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2+2, Fig. 1. Fi 3 is a plan view of the rim.

In these gures, A. represents the felly of a wheel and B a heavy metal band having a conical peripheral or tread surface, upon which a demountable rim is secured. The rim carries, instead of an ordinary tire, wood blocks C closely fitted together to form a ring, and each having the grain of the wood radial with respect to the wheel. The tread face of this ring is provided with a central groove in which lies a resilient sinuous band or tire-like bar D of steel, the deflections bein very numerous and alternately to the rig t and left with respect to the medial plane of the wheel. Near the inner side of this ring the wood projects outward on each lateral face to form slightly projectin annular ribs C, C. The wood ring 18 hel in or between two annular steel rim members F, F, which fit its lateral and inner surfaces, and extend nearly to the medial line of the latter. Through the outer "plane portions of these members and the intervening woodrin bolts G are passed at suitable intervals, inding the arts to- Thisstructure is secure to the coned wheel by means of pairs of broad oppositely turned wedges H, H drawn to.-

ward each other by boltsI and each preferably provided with an upwardly extendadapted to resist Wear, and the wood being thoroughly impregnated with suitable water excludlng and decay resisting material the Whole is durable. is slightly elastic, and does not transmit shocks and vibrations like metal. The wavy bar D retards Wear upon the wood and its zig-zag course causes it to prevent slipping of the wheel much as do the diagonal ribs sometimes found on the tread surfaces of Wheels. Obviously the rim may be replaced at any time without removing other parts. So if any block fails sooner than the rest, it may be readily replaced if the member F, for example, be first detached. The steel bar D further serves as an extremely strong spring extending slightly if the wood swells and by its resistance still binding the blocks firmly together if-the wood shrinks.

What I claim is 1. The combination with awheel rovided with closely conti uous wood bloc s forming a peripheral ring, of an annular, sinuous, spring metal band encircling said ring and yieldingly pressing said blocks toward the center of the wheel. Q

2. A. demountable wheel rim bearing an annular tire body, or tread member, of wood circumferentially, grooved and made up of blocks pressed inwardly with approximately constant force by an annular sinuous band of spring metal lying in the groove.

In testimonwhereof I afiix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

A CHARLES FRANCIS JENKINS.

,Witnesses James L. CRAWFORD, I ROBERT CRAIG GREENE.

The wood lessens noise, 

